First game of the season and its a home tie in the Cup. Often these ties represent a banana skin for expectant managers and this was no different - except that Buffs were probably the skin that the higher quality visitors hoped to avoid.

Nevertheless it seemed like a calm and controlled start. Buffs threatened early through Dalglish and then Baxter and forcing a corner early on. However, the referee seemed to need time to settle - he lectured a visiting player for a tackle on Baxter and the player avoided a card but no-one noticed any free-kick. That seemed to spur on Slim Jim as he brought the ball from deep and cut inside and as Dalglish cut across the keeper looking for the near-post ball and an almost certain goal, Baxter curled it to the far past - Goal!.

A nice controlled evenlymatched passing game was unfolding, Buffs probing the flanks and Jengking FC prodding at the middle. A further chance came from Buffs as Dalglish took a pass from Souness and rounded the keeper but a last ditch sliding block turned the ball over the bar. The corner was cleared and fell kindly to the visitors and they broke at pace running for the heart of Buffs defence. Buffs' debutant *not yet named* make a fine tackle but slipped as he was about to clear the danger. It was hit first time and powered towards the top corner. Goram stretched every sinew and with the faintest of touches diverted it over. Half time came. *EDitor's note - and at fulltime Goram rated a 5!

Dalglish had seemed a bit jaded in the first half and strangely tired. Mols got ready to replace him - just as Dalglish picked up a loose ball and rifled it back across the keeper into the bottom corner. 2-0 for Buffs FC yet it was to be the last act for King Kenny as he was replaced, as planned. The vistors then pressed hard and they clearly weren't intent on losing another as Baxter hurdled a vicious sliding tackle but as he raced clear he pulled up clutching his groin and couldn't continue. McFadden was stripped for action while Baxter was treated. Amazingly it was a free-kick, no one had noticed the referee blowing but play restarted with a dead ball situation. Gemmell unleashed a piledriver that the keeper had covered....HAD until Johnstone flicked a heel and it was 3-0. 9 minutes later Johnstone was on hand again when Bremner burst into a gap in the defence and a quick lay-off served it up on a plate for Jinky. For the first time the business like faces of the Buffs faces showed traces of satisfaction - and the visitors wiped it off with an amazing solo run and finish to get off the mark in this tie. At last the ref signalled McFadden on and the tie drifted to the final whistle with neither team prepared to take any further risks.

A nice start to a long season.